Above is the artwork for one of Frank Griffith's Albums

OK, the Nag. is a bit late, and it will be short, as 2 of my grandchildren have been on half term!!

TONIGHT

At The Hedsor Social Club (perhaps we should now call it "The Famous Hedsor Social Club"!) with Clive Burton and the quartet we have that wonderful and swinging tenor saxophonist Al Nicholls.
£3 to get in, raffle to get out! Gig starts at 8.30pm

I will point out at this juncture, that the bar the music is played in is now a NO SMOKING area. At the moment, smoking is still allowed in the other bar.

Sunday, at The Fifield, a tenor player I personally don't know, Brian Thompson. Its a free gig, funded by a raffle, starts at 8pm, and good quality food is available.

At Hedsor next Thursday, March 1st American saxophonist, currently living in the UK, Frank Griffith will be our guest. Check out the website http://www.jazzorg.com/ for more info about him and the work he has done, BUT don't miss out on a live set by staying away!

Sunday 4th March at Fifield will be that lovely trumpet player Pete Towndrow.

LISTENING AT HOME

this week has been slightly truncated, but I have spent some time remastering some old reel to reel tapes of 1960's BBC Jazz Club Broadcasts. It has proved to me (again), that we did have some wonderful talent around, much underrated by ourselves. This is still a truism!! Do go out and listen to the live stuff, because it will be the stuff nostalgia is made of!!

TTFN, See you tonight,

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

I just thought I would put everyone's mind at rest, and say that 4th time was lucky, and I did have a very pleasant visit with Mike Wills on Tuesday. Attached is a photo taken Tuesday, showing Mike active in the role of tea maker!!

Also I am pleased to report that last Sunday, he managed 5 tunes on the bandstand at a lunchtime session in Oxford before Sam dragged him off. He said he felt fine, and that it was great to get back on the bandstand. He plans to come and see us all at Hedsor one Thursday very soon (purely as a punter you understand!).

No further surgery is being proposed for him, he just has to keep taking the tablets!! He will also be joining a cardiac rehab gym next week to get some of his former fitness back.

AND, if you look closely at your Swanage Jazz Festival program, you will see that he will be appearing there, and, in a different band, so will Clive Burton! We obviously have True greatness in our midst!

See you tonight at Hedsor for SIMON SPILLETT (and for those who don't know, he plays a saxophone!).

Geoff C

Another week, another missed visit (by me) to Mike Wills, well I did warn people. I said comet, but in fact it was snow!! Never mind, I hope to see him, and pass on all the good will messages to him TODAY, but, well, you never know!

Local gigs:-

Hedsor, on Thursday, our guest will be SIMON SPILLETT, so do make sure you turn out, you are bound to enjoy it, and make friends, and perhaps make someone happy! (even yourself).

As we are privileged to know from Simons regular visits to us, he is a rising star of the British Jazz Scene, and in my view, still an improving player. Yes, I know he has amazing technical command of the tenor sax, but he is now hearing, and playing with, other great British jazz musicians, and you can hear it in his playing. Its an 8.30 start at Hedsor, £3 to get in, but we do expect you to buy a raffle ticket for one of the amazing prizes on offer every week.

Whilst still at Hedsor, advance notice that I have been asked to organise a few extra gigs at the Hedsor club. So, on the last Monday of March (26th) I shall be starting an evening series involving the Jazz Guitar, featuring different players month by month. The first one will feature James Fenn, with Lisa Amato on bass, and, to quote her own words

"Hello Mr JazzSuspect,Thanks for the poster - very eye-catching and colourful. I'll have to change the wording though, as it now transpires that O'Hig can't make it. Why he wants to earn a fortune on the session scene is beyond me, but he now owes me a favour, so I'm sure we'll be able to drag him down at some point. However, the infinitely less famous bass holder shall be there and we have drafted in another bebop hotshot, so should be good."

O'Hig referred to was Dave O'Higgins, who had initially offered his support for the opening night.
I shall be charging £5 to get in, NO RAFFLE, so do come along. All the money processed on the door will pay the band, the more that come, the more they get!!

At Fifield on Sunday, almost in competition, we have guitarist Max Britain, 8pm start, free entry, raffle funded.

My April Monday guitar gig by the way will be led by London based Tim Saunders "with friends."

For those of you who like to mark their diaries up in advance, Thursday 22nd at Hedsor the guest will be saxophonist Al Nicholls.

Recorded Jazz

Continuing really with my guitar theme, I've listened to a very soothing CD by the virtuoso guitarist Antonio Forcione. Its a very simple album, only 2 players, and when I tell you that the other one is bassist Charlie Haden, you will realise that its a quality album, and great for late night Hi Fi listening. Its on the NAIM label, and some of you will know that name(!) from some very classy Hi Fi products. The recording quality is superb! To quote from the PR blurb "Heartplay (the name of the album) is a (!) unprocessed analogue recording, in which the sound of the instruments is allowed to shine without any hindrance from the procedure". I will say that yes, that is true, but also say as well that it's great music that is shining through .Its NAIM CD098.

My other recommendation this week is from another lady singer. Yes, I know some of you don't like them, but some of us don't like flutes, and its hard to say that they don't get played a lot in our music too. Anyway, this young lady singer IS young. All of 15! So with someone so young, and, perforce, inexperienced in both life and music, how can it be any good. Read on McB..

She comes from Scotland does Daisy Chute, and has been singing for over a year with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. Her voice is clear and clean, and she conveys the emotion of each song appropriately for its content. She seems to be pitch perfect too. She is accompanied by David Patrick on piano, Adam Sorenson drums, and Andy Sharkey on bass. Its not just that she sings one of my favourites (Lazy Afternoon), but a lot of other songs that you will recognise, but that haven't been over sung!! I am absolutely sure that she is a great British talent in the ascendancy. Her album "Daisy Chute Simply Jazz" is on the Twisted Lips label TLCD001. Try http://www.twiddi.co.uk/ for a copy.

Well that's it for now folks, see the CD covers on my blog page

TTFN

This one is partly a retrospective, and partly a forward advert for things to look forward to, so please bear with the text!!

Currently I'm suffering on of those sciatic back problems that always come at you out of the blue (there's a band in that somewhere), and always make you think that you'll never walk again, but there you go, all I expect from you all is SYMPATHY! It happened yesterday, after I volunteered to organise our evening meal!!

Yesterday I had planned to visit Mike Wills in darkest (blue) Oxford, but yet again, it has had to be postponed. Mike suffered an "episode" whilst crossing the road on Wednesday, and decided to site down on the island in the middle, as he felt dizzy. A kind passing stranger had, however, already dialled 999, and within 1 minute a Para medic was with him, by which time Mike was recovering anyway. BUT, to be safe, they whisked him away to the John Radcliff, kept him there 9 hours, checked him thoroughly, and sent him home (at 10pm) with Sam!! All down to a change in medication, and that he had taken it in the morning, not at bed time!! The only reading matter he had about him for this 9 hour assessment was next weeks Radio Times, so if you need to know anything about next weeks media, give him a ring as he knows it by heart!! He is now back in his own home, and laughing about it all!

So, watch out for stray comets, or a plague of frogs next Thursday, because for the 4th attempt I will be travelling to Oxford for a visit (perhaps). That's if my back improves!!

In retrospection still, I, (and a number of other Hedsor fans) enjoyed the fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability last Saturday, and very fine fun it was too. Well done all. Even John Brooks, cutting a fine figure in his leopard pants, remembered (or with improved glasses, was able to read) all the words!! Well done chaps, it was the best so far, and left me without a heart attack! It was exactly 5 years ago to the gig that I suffered my third, and so far, last, heart attack!! so some apprehension in me was apparent!

I've had an email from Al Nicholls, who says:-

Here is the line up for the King & Castle, Windsor for February (6.30 - 9.30pm - commuter jazz!)
7th Al Nicholls Trio
14th Neil Casey Trio (featuring Dave Priseman, I think?)
21st Jeff Williams Trio
28th Jeff Williams Trio

I am also at Fifield this Sunday (4th)

Cheers, Al Nicholls

So, lets carry on on that theme with news of the next few gigs, and some a little further away.

Sunday, Fifield, see above, it will be Al Nicholls.

Tuesday it will be Jazz at The Bourne End Community Centre, 8.30 pm onwards. I don't know the band, but its always good fun, and even includes a finger buffet ay half time.

Thursday, The Clive Burton Quintet will be at The Hedsor Social Club, with a guest, but I don't know who yet (does Clive I wonder?).

At Hedsor I'm hoping to start a new venture! Once a month, on a Monday night, starting on March 26th, I'm going to be running a series of presentations by different jazz guitarists. It will cost £5 to get in, and all the money will go to paying the players!! I'm hoping that James Fenn will be our first guest.
It's all a bit of a toe in the water job, but I have missed my gigs at The Old Bell (I was thrown out exactly a year ago), and the Hedsor Club has offered me Monday nights. So do look out for more info on this series, and please support it if you can.

On May 11th (a Friday) I will be running another Jazz Concert for Cancer Research. This year it is called "From Dixieland to Swing". As always it will be Cafe Style, with tickets at £10 a head, and a raffle as well.Please add it to your "must go" list.

Recorded Jazz

Two albums again that have tickled my fancy this week. The first is on the Timeless Label ( from Holland) features live concert recordings of The Dutch Swing Collage. Still going after 60 odd years, the personnel changes of course, but they are a very slick band playing in a traditional style. All the old, and maybe slightly too familiar tunes are there, with one or two gems (Doghouse Blues, On Revival Day) added in to make it less predictable.It swings, and they are all great instrumentalists. On the whole, perhaps a bit too predictable, but fun anyway. It was recorded in 2003 whilst on tour in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.Timeless CDTTD652

The other album is by Ruby Braff and his Buddies, who include Scott Hamilton. Its one of his best, recorded in the Regattabar in Cambridge, MA in 1993. Beautiful relaxed, unorganised ensemble and solo playing that is a true joy to listen to. 9 tunes, and in addition to SH, solos are contributed by Dave McKenna on piano, Gary Sargent on guitar, Marshall Wood bass, and Chuck Riggs on drums. The music really was unrehearst, and it was directed on the spot a la Condon by Ruby himself. A definite for any lover of cornet playing, and although he was already suffering from emphysema, you would never know. Go for it. Arbours Records ARCD 19311.

Well, more than enough for me,

TTFN

Geoff C

PS

Yet more interesting stuff from Al Nicholls. Blue Harlem are also at Norden Farm, Maidenhead's Arts Centre, on Friday 16th March.

Geoff C
----- Original Message -----
From: Al Nicholls
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:01 PM
Subject: 3rd February
Hi All,

Blue Harlem are appearing at the Pigalle Club (just off Piccadilly Circus), tomorrow, 3rd February
It's free to get in before 10pm - Smart dress code - ie no jeans, trainers, etc.

Come check out our fabulous new singer Carla Viegas - if you haven't already done so.
Also see the revamped web site: http://www.blueharlem.co.uk/

Cheers, Al Nicholls

First, what a wonderful evening last night turned out to be. I suppose those of us who go regularly to the Hedsor Social Club on Thursdays have rather got used to having Simon Spillett playing his, and everyone else's socks of for us. And we are used to the intimate and friendly atmosphere, but we are going to have to get used to the idea, that other quality musicians want to come along and sample the very special atmosphere that we have all created at Hedsor. Last night Simon was joined by another quality tenor player in the very large shape of American Frank Griffith. It was a real knockout!! AND he wants to come back and play for us again!! It was a truly memorable night, not just for Hedsor, but for jazz!! (Frank can also be found teaching clarinet at Brunel University, and he has an excellent CD out called "The Coventry Suite", try http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/acad/sa/artstaff/music/frankgriffith for more info).

The picture above was culled from the website!

BUT MORE

Sunday at The Fifield Inn, as a replacement for Max Britain, Simon Spillett! Fifield on a Sunday could just become a habit!!

Last night Clive Burton couldn't remember who he had booked for Hedsor, but a couple of weeks ago he had told me it would be Pete Davis. Unfortunaly I wont be there, but you could go and see if I'm wrong!!

Events

TOMORROW at The Hedsor Social Club, we have as our guest the up and coming (Jazz UK Official) Simon Spillett on tenor sax, together of course, with Clive Burton and his quartet. 8.30 pm start £3 in.

SATURDAY at Cookhams Pinder Hall, the fabulous Shirtlifters present an evening of jazz Winter Ineluctability!! Tickets I am told are in short supply, but that nice Mr Benson HAS reserved mine at the entrance! (Ta). You could try ringing him on 01628 472163 to see if there are any left.

SUNDAY Fifield Inn doesn't have Max Britain, but I'm sure there will be a guest for Century Jazz. Free event, raffle funded.

In to the Future, put it in your diaries. May 11th (a Friday) will be the next Cancer Research Jazz Concert at The Bourne End Community Centre. This year it will be entitled "From Dixieland to Swing" and Tickets will be available soon.

Mike Wills

I tried to visit Mike last Thursday, but the gales (and an overturned lorry blocking the M40) prevented me. I was going to see him tomorrow, but he now has an appointment with the medical profession to sift through future options for him. I've had a long chat with him on the phone tonight and the news is generally very good. In himself he feels well, and has had 2 one hour practice sessions in the last few days, one on clarinet and the other on alto. He felt fine during and after these sessions, so its looking good. The Medics still need to decide if they are going to put in one stent to open up a blocked artery, or leave it alone for now. Open Heart surgery is still a possibility. Soon he will be starting his cardiac rehab exercise routine (which is basically doing an hours circuit training in a gym once a week). I have booked another visit with him next week, but you never know!!

Listening at Home

I'm still mildly amazed by new technology, and have been playing with some of my newer toys this week. I have put together a couple of CD's of music from my own collection using MP3 format to get them onto an ordinary CD. When played back on a DVD player, you can then access 13 albums from one disk. And the music I enjoyed most during this little experiment was a jazz album I first heard 40 years ago at least, and have mentioned here before. Coast Concert by Bobby Hackett and his Jazz Band is absolutely timeless. Its relaxed, tuneful, swinging music, played by masters of the art. Jack Teagarden on trombone joins Bobby Hackett in the front line, with Matty Matlock and a few other ace players on tunes like (yet again) "I Want a Big Butter and Egg Man", "Basin Street Blues" (where Teagarden sings "hang on now while I play a trombone coda"), "Royal Garden Blues", and they all end up with "Fidgety Feet" which I had all the way through! Its combined on my Dormouse International CD with another album from the same period called "Jazz Ultimate" (the period being 1955 and 1957 respectively). OK, they are traditional tunes, but its not Trad Jazz (a British invention), its just Great Jazz. Seek and ye shall find. Dormouse died with the company owner some years ago, but I'm sure the albums are still around somewhere.

The other object was watched as well as listened to, because I was using the DVD player for its prime purpose, watching a film. Nils Landgren is a trombone player some of you may have heard off, although I would guess not too many of you. He is a Swedish player with a remarkable technique, that wasn't restricted to Jazz Music (I heard him some years ago performing with The London Philharmonic Orchestra). He can also sing very well. ACT have released of a DVD of Nils performing a "Christmas Concert with My Friends" from a medieval church in Stockholm. The friends to me are largely unknown (but shouldn't be, because they are amazingly talented) but they do include singer Viktoria Tolstoy, who has a couple of really good jazz albums out in the UK, a lovely voice, with a stunning presence. The tunes are a real mixture of the classical and the jazz. So "In Dulce Jubilo" (a piano solo) mix with "The Christmas Song" and "When You Wish Upon a Star". Some of it is sung in Swedish, but the overall visual and sound experience is worth the purchase. ACTDVD 9901-9

That's it for now, keep live jazz alive,

Geoff C

The Max Britain appearance scheduled for Fifield Next Sunday has been CANCELLED.

If I can discover who the replacement guest will be before the event, I will let you know.

Last nights event there, with Pete Towndrow on trumpet and flugel horn was a great set. A really melodic player, who usually plays trad in the Epsom area, he was very at home with Clifford Brown tunes, and the harmonies created between Pete and Clive on trombone were a joy to experience.

But, and there always is a but, not many of you turned out for it. As the Fifields rent has just gone up by 3%, it wont only be the landlord (Barry) who would appreciate your attendance!!

Help to keep live music live. It isn't a hardship, we are getting such fantastic musicians playing in our area that you would be doing yourselves a disfavour by missing out on the music!

Don't forget, Simon Spillett at Hedsor on Thursday.

Geoff C

A little Jazz Information that is new, and some that is just a little bit more nagging!!

TONIGHT, at The Fifield (8pm start, free, raffle funded) with Century Jazz is the trumpet player Pete Towndrow.

Nagging reminders: Simon Spillett is the guest at The Hedsor social Club on Thursday, 8.30 pm start. £3 in raffle out!

Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability are at Cookhams Pinder Hall on Saturday (27th) from 8pm., but you will need a ticket (£7) try ringing 01628 472163, and if Mr Benson reads this, please reserve me one!!

And on Sunday 28th Jan at Fifield, guitarist Max Britain will be playing with Century Jazz.

Just don't miss out!!

Geoff C

Again this week I will keep it brief ish.

two or three gigs

First. THURSDAY (18th Jan), our guest at The Hedsor Social Club will be none other than that great swinging sax player Al Nichols! Clive promises to be there too, so it should be another great session. its an 8.30 start.

A bit like the sales, when its gone, its gone, and our sessions at Hedsor will not inevitably carry on indefinitely, things don't work out like that. So stay at home and enjoy the TV, and remember what live jazz was all about, or come on out (even if it is dark and wet) and see what it is still like. The choice is yours. And seeing as it will only cost you £3 to get in, what's the problem! You may recall that last week my wife and I were very generously given tickets for the Sound of Music at The Palladium. Well, the cheapest seats in the house were £45, and the place was a sell-out. At Hedsor we are giving away quality live jazz music at only £3 a head. We will of course charge you a raffle ticket to get out, but we wont sell you a souvenir program for £3.50!!

Second. Sunday, Century Jazz's guest at Fifield will be Pete Towndrow

Thirdly, Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability is on Saturday Jan 27th. Tickets £7, grab one from Charles Benson soon, cause they go like hot cakes.

Home Listening

Something Old, Something New

First the old, and got out of my collection on hearing of the recent death of clarinet player Kenny Davern. A record he made in 1986 with Humphrey Lyttelton on trumpet, John Barnes on various saxophones, Mick Hutton on bass, Martin Litton on piano and Colin Bowden on drums. yes, a really eclectic selection of players. Mick Hutton is more of an outright modernist, and Colin Bowden used to be Ken Colyers drummer, a very New Orleans style player. But the overall product really works. Its been reissued on an Upbeat CD (URCD138) called "This Old Gang of Ours" and is timeless jazz. It swings, and Bowden on drums to me is outstanding. He propels it all. Martin Litton is well know for his academic work on 20's and 30's jazz, John Barnes and Humph can play anything from trad to swing, and to hear tunes like "A Porters Love Song to a Chamber Maid" without its vocal makes you realise what a good tune it really is. Go out and find it!

The new one is the latest from the Matt Wates Sextet, called "Plum Lane". Matt writes nearly all his own material, but an outing on Jimmy Rowles "The Peacocks" just shows us he knows how to play other peoples tunes as well! The Line up Is Matt on alto and flute, Martin Shaw on trumpet, Steve Kaldestad on tenor, Leon Greening on piano, Malcolm Creese bass and Steve Brown drums. Its very smooth jazz, full of harmonic flavour, played by people who make it all sound so easy. The great thought about it all is that mostly they are young men!! During their lifetime at least we can be assured that there are people who will be able to play jazz, even if they have no place to play it! Its on the audio-b label as ABCD 5019. www.audio-b.com will get you more info.

Well, that's it for now, the blog will have the CD artwork.

Geoff C

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

Just a quick Nag today, to let you know that our guest at The Hedsor Social Club on Thursday will be Simon Spillett. He is also featured this month in an article in the Jazz Uk Gig Guide, copies of which should also be available on Thursday. The article is about rising young talent, and its good to know that others now know what we have found out by ourselves!! If YOU haven't found out about him yet, do come along to Hedsor tomorrow! Its still only £3 to get in, and yes, it is still a raffle ticket to get out!

A quick update on Mike Wills. He is still recovering gently at home, the pacemaker is doing its job, and he is due to see a specialist at The Radcliffe sometime soon! He did try a quick blow of his clarinet, but after about 1 minute he gave up! A bit more recovery time (and cardiac rehab exercise) before he can play properly. Patience is a virtue (but I don't seem to have acquired that one yet!).

I'm probably like you, still recovering from the Christmas and New Year activities, but I have been reminded of some Louis Armstrong sessions from a while back.

A friend asked me if I had both the LA All-stars New York Town Hall and Boston Symphony Hall concerts on CD, as they have just been released as a package on the Definitive label, as an import, for about 19 €. As it happens I do already have them, but the enquiry reminded me of the marvellous music they contain. Both these concerts were recorded live in 1947, long before Hi Fi, Stereo, or LP's. And if you think of Louis as a bit "Uncle Tom" grab a listen to these. He was at the top of his playing form, he had wonderful support from Jack Teagarden on trombone, Barney Bigard (in Boston) or Peanuts Hucko on clarinet, Dick Cary on piano, Big Sid Catlett on drums and Arvil Shaw (Boston) or Bob Haggart on bass. The New York set was rehearsed by Bobby Hackett, who stayed behind to play in the gig on Cornet.

The acetates have cleaned up remarkably, and if you want to learn was loose swing is all about, grab for this set. Rockin Chair, Back of Town Blues, Big Butter and Egg Man and about 3 dozen others. The title of Butter and Egg Man refers to the lady singers desire to have a "Big Butter and Egg Man" as a sponsor for all her activities. After all, it would mean he was a rich farmer!!

So, from this impoverished jazz lover,

TTFN

Geoff C

PS
I'm just off to see the Sound Of Music, honest. Curtesy of our lovely daughter-in-law.

Hi Fans,

A Brief addition to the nagging you have received for the Christmas Season (of goodwill of course!).

There will be a gig on the Thursday between Christmas and New Year at The Hedsor Social Club.

We will be having a session there with Simon Spillett. For those of you who will be unable to count by then, that will be December 28th!!

Many of you will be aware of the campaign against cruel music licensing, and some of you will have already received the following piece of information, but it is well worthy of repeat, and if you have yet to sign the partition, what are you waiting for? Surely not a juggling, poll dancing, politician!!


David Cronin's online licensing/live music petition has about 1,840 signatures and currently stands at no. 21 in the list of 1,182 petitions on the Number 10 website. Not bad for just under a week. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing However it still lags behind a petition calling on the prime minister to stand on his head and juggle ice cream. Of course, if the prime minister were talented enough to stand on his head and juggle ice cream, and if his performance took place indoors, this would be potentially licensable under the new Licensing Act. The activity would fall within the meaning an 'indoor sporting event' as defined in Schedule 1, para 16(2): '..."Sporting event" means any contest, exhibition or display of any sport, and "sport" includes... (b) any form of physical recreation which is also engaged in for purposes of competition or display'.

The above is courtesy of Hamish Birchall.

Dont forget, this Thursday it will be nosh at Hedsor as well as Jazz, and that Tonight you can join the carol singers in breaking rules with Lynn, Ken and Brad at The Harrow. Now are they performing sport or art? What section should we look up?

If all else fails, I do hope you all have a merry Christmas and a fun new year.

Geoff

Greetings Jazz Lovers.

Before letting you know more about the (almost) illegal live music, let me bring you my latest info on Mike Wills. By now, he should have had a pace maker fitted, which will keep him ticking over Christmas, and then sometime next year he will be returning to hospital for some further surgery. It is great news that he is now in the comfort of his own home, with friends and family making sure he does as he is told!! And if he's actually reading this, its great to have you back Mike.

Events

Wednesday

The King and Castle in Thames Street, Windsor.
Al Nicholls trio alternates with trombonist Jeff Williams trio on Wednesdays. It’s a free gig, with a slightly odd start time. They play there from 6.30 pm ‘till 9.30 pm.

ALSO

This Wednesday at The Harrow, Hughenden Valley, from 8.30pm onwards, you can join Lynn Garner, Ken McCarthy and Brad Lang in a selection of seasonal songs, usually accompanied by the local church choir. So, for a bit of seasonal festive fun, just turn up, because its FREE!!

Thursday

At The Hedsor Social Club, The Clive Burton Quintet, but THIS WEEK, we will be having a few nibbles as a celebration of the season. If anyone feels like donating a few mince pies, sausage rolls etc, just bring and share. As usual, it will be £3 to get in, and a raffle ticket to get out!

Whilst on the subject of The Hedsor club, I have been asked to ask all jazz fans who come, and who have yet to kick the tobacco habit, that it would be appreciated if they could smoke outside of the music area, as many of our fans are put off coming because of the smoky atmosphere that can develop on some occasions. We need every jazz lover to come out to keep this wonderful and unique live venue open, so your understanding in this would be greatly appreciated.

Recorded Music

This week I have both listened and watched! Courtesy of that media DVD I have now experienced some modern Dutch jazz musicians. There are 4 DVD's out of music performed "Live in Amsterdam" ( OK, I know its hard to see a dead performance, but I have come close to it!). I have now watched 2.

The first one is from a young lady saxophonist called Tineke Postma, with a superb quintet of keyboard, bass, drums, guitar, with a couple of track enhanced with the trombone of Iija Reingoud. Its post bop modern, well performed, well filmed and the sound is gorgeous. So if you want something that is a bit different from "Pirates of the Caribbean" in your DVD player this holiday, you could do a lot worse than look for it (I wouldn't bother Smiths though!). Munich Records BMDVD 5001.

The other DVD from the same stable is by a young singer who has gained a PhD in tropical forestry! But she is now sharing the stage with some great jazz musicians. Her name is Heleen van den Hambergh, and no I don't recognise any of the other names, so I wont bother you with them. But they are all very good jazz musicians (piano, bass, drums), and if for no other reason than extending your understanding of continental jazz music I can recommend the two DVD's to anyone. My favourite track of Heleen's is "The Jaguar", all about the cat not the car. Excellent. Again its on Munich Records as BMDDVD 5003.

One thing to amend in your diary, the Jazz Concert for Cancer research schedule for February 10th. This has been amended into a rock style gig, but still in aid of cancer research. So do still go along if you are free. Its all in a good cause.

Artwork of the DVD's will be on the blogg.

Do, all of you, have a splendid Christmas, and I'll look out for you at future gigs. If we struggle, we will keep

Live Jazz Alive

Geoff C
Jazz from Geoff

New E- Petition re the Music Licencing Regulation Problems

I know some of you will be well aware of the new restrictions on live music following on from last years change of law, and some of you will be aware of this petition. I can only urge all who love live entertainment, especially music and dance, to sign up to the petition by following the link.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing/#detail

This petition has been started by a folk musician, Domonic Cronin!! I have no known connection with this gentleman, but he is obviously an activator. Good luck to him, and please sign up.

Geoff C

An abbreviated nag at the moment (Christmas is coming and I haven't done my Christmas Cards yet!) to let you know that the guest for this Thursdays Session at The Hedsor Social Club will be Simon Spillett.

8.30 pm till 11 pm, £3 to get in, a raffle ticket to get out.

I will also bring some very reasonably priced CD's for you to buy as Christmas presents for your Aunty!

Simon will of course be bringing his new CD for you to purchase as well.

News of Mike Wills is encouraging. He is recovering slowly but still has a long way to go. Some form of heart surgery is on the cards, so please continue to keep him and Sam in your thoughts.

More later but for now,

Goodbye

Geoff C

Good December to all our readers. Definitely getting my priorities in the correct order,

News of Mike Wills

Mike has continued to make progress, and is out of intensive care and in to the coronary unit of St. Peters Hospital, Chertsey. He will be having an Angiogram today to establish how damaged his heart is, and what further action needs to be taken. BUT, he is sitting up in bed. At the moment the beverage he desires most is a glass of red wine, but he might have to wait a bit longer before nurse allows it! His tongue still hasn't healed from last Wednesday, and he is struggling to drink high protean drinks at the moment.

Both he and Sam have been overwhelmed by your kindness and supportive response. He has never had so many grown men telling him how much he is loved. Now he knows the level of support he has from all of you guys out there and its blown him away! He will still need your prayers and positive thoughts, as he enters on the next stages of his journey to recovery. So from Mike and Sam a BIG THANK YOU.

Events

Tonight at The Bourne End Community Centre from 8.30 pm onwards Mo and her Centre Jazz are putting on The Dixieland Swing Kings. £4 to get in, which includes a raffle ticket. Don't forget it also includes half time refreshments. A good night out in a comfortable bar with club priced booze.

Wednesday There is now live jazz at The King and Castle in Thames Street, Windsor, with Al Nicholls trio alternating with the trombonist Jeff Williams trio. It starts at the slightly unusual time of 6.30 pm, but it would get you home in time for your bedtime coco as it finishes at 9.30 pm.

6th - Al Nicholls Trio
13th - Al Nicholls Trio
20th Jeff Williams Trio

Thursday, the Hedsor Social Club will have The Clive Burton Quintet, but as yet I don't know who the front line will be. 8.30 pm start. £3 to get in, raffle to get out!

Last weeks session with John Coverdale started off slightly uncertainly due to everyone's distress over Mike, but it developed into a very melodic, and carefully crafted session. Well done chaps.

Sunday The Fifiled Inn still offers food and Jazz on a Sunday night, with Century Jazz, again, due to Mike's absence, I am uncertain of the line-up. 8 pm start, free entry, but please buy a raffle ticket.

Listening at Home

Following on from my mention of Al Nicholls and Jeff Williams above, I've had a listen to there joint CD "Uptown Swing". Those of us who have followed Century Jazz or the Clive Burton Quintet for any length of time will be used to the front line sound of Trombone and Tenor Sax, and this is a good CD of similar sounding music. Slightly more based on the musical repertoire of the Swing Era than Century Jazz's Mulligan modern jazz style, you can hear the sound of trombone and saxophone on tunes like Ellington's "Battle Royal", and the Basie Bands "Blue and Sentimental" or "Corner Pocket" as well as a couple of Al's own compositions. Accompanying the front pairing are Hilary Cameron, a young British pianist who has trained in the Manhattan Music School, bass player with some years of practice John Rees-Jones, and veteran drummer Rex Bennett. Its well worth an audition, so why not contact Al for a copy. Harlem Records HARLCD 006.

I don't want to infer that Al isn't well known , but the other CD I want to refer you too this week is by Louis Armstrong! It comes from the AVID label and is entitled "Blues for Yesterday". In many ways this is an odd coupling together of tracks from the mid to late 40's, mainly with the small group that developed into The Louis Armstrong All-stars. The graphics on the cover would have you believe that its a cheep budged reissue, done to cash in on some old tracks and a name. However it is worthy of much closer scrutiny.It's fully documented for one, and musically wonderful. It contains no less than six tracks from the 1947 "This is Jazz" Broadcast. The line up for that alone is worth the purchase price (as well as Louis there is Wild Bill Davision, George Brunis, Albert Nicholas, Art Hodes, Danny Barker, Pops Foster and Baby Dodds. So overall, the jazz is wonderful. But there is also a great bonus track, which my grandson really enjoyed (he acted it out as a floor show!). From the 1949 Eddie Condon Show we have Louis telling the story of "The Three Little Bears" (Goldilocks to you and me!). Over 12 minutes of pure joy! AVID AMSC 670

Well that's it from me folks, see the blog for the CD artwork

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

I have had some unpleasant news this morning, that I feel we ought to share with as many who know him.

Mike Wills, saxophonist with Century Jazz and The Clive Burton Quintet, had a heart attack last night whilst on a gig in Sheperton. He is now in intensive care in St Peters Hospital, Chertsey. I am told he is stable, although at one time last night his heart stopped.

I'm sure all of you will wish to keep him, and his partner Sam, in your thoughts. I will keep you informed of more news as soon as I have it myself. Please tell others who are not reachable by email.

Geoff Cronin

Geoff’s Jazz Nag

Tuesday, 28 November 2006

With a reasonable number of jazz things to write about his week!

First the gigs:-

Tomorrow, at The Harrow, up the Hughenden Valley towards Speen, from 8.30 pm onwards that lovely lady singer Lynn Garner will be appearing with Ken McCarthy on piano and Brad Lang on bass. A bit of a reunion gig, as this was one of our regular local gigs until the new music licensing laws put a stop to our fun. Do come out and hear what we all miss, its free, friendly, with good beer and good food to boot.

Thursday, at The Hedsor Social Club The Clive Burton Quintet continue to bring us quality jazz at ridiculously low prices! 8.30. ‘till 11pm, £3 in, raffle out. You know you are going to kick yourself one day because you never came. And where did Simon Spillet choose to launch his new CD? Yep, Hedsor! More on the CD later.

I have been in contact with Al Nicholls this week. He has been telling me of another local gig. Every Wednesday at The King and Castle in Thames Street, Windsor, Al’s trio alternates with trombonist Jeff Williams trio. It’s another free gig, with a slightly odd start time. They play there from 6.30 pm ‘till 9.30 pm. If enough enthusiasts get along, it could become another permanent feature on the jazz calendar. One thing is to be sure, if you don’t go, even occasionally, the jazz there will not carry on!

On the subject of Al Nicholls, it should be noted that Blue Harlem are playing at Norden Farm on Friday March 16th 2007, so get that diary out. (£10.50 to get in, ring 01628 788997 for tickets).

Sunday, at Fifield, Century Jazz will be performing from 8 pm. Late lunches are available!

A further advanced date for your diary, I have been asked to organise a jazz fundraiser for Cancer Research UK at The British Legion Hall, Loudwater on February 10th. Book it now, more details will follow. BUT, it will be in the usual Café style, where you can bring your own picnic, but buy your drinks from the bar, and tickets will probably be £10 each. Were looking to sell 150 tickets, and I’m assured the raffle prizes will be wonderful!

Did I say “Simon Spillett” somewhere? Didn’t his gig with Clive go well last Thursday? I know those who were there will already have his new CD but I’m going to mention it anyway. Those of us who have been coming out to jazz at Hedsor and Fifield relatively frequently have rather got used too, and been spoilt by, the fairly frequent opportunities to hear Simon. We know how good he is, and we have seen him improve over the past few years. Make no mistake; he is an ascending jazz star. His new CD, on the Woodville Label (Alan Barnes’s own) has him with his usual trio backing him, and who could want for a better backing, John Critchinson on piano, Andrew Cleyndert bass, and Martin Drew on drums. Well recorded, I think this album does justice to the Simon we know, and should surely bring him additional fans. I really love his version of “Off The Wagon”, with good solos from John and Andrew as well as Simon of course, and the ballad “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most” is another of my favourites from the album.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Simon on Cookham Summer FM this past summer, and I think that over the last few years he has gained in maturity and self assurance. Yes, sometimes his playing does sound like Tubby Hayes, whom he was able to talk about with great authority and with some wonderful musical illustrations on that broadcast occasion. But he is now his own man, and “Spring..” demonstrates that to the full. I well remember how we thought Scott Hamilton sounded like Ben Webster when he first arrived on the American jazz Scene (yes, I do still have his first CD, and yes, I did buy it from his own hands too!) but look what has happened to him!

By the way the broadcast interview has been heard by quite a few people now, and I have had a number of phone calls from musicians (saxophone players et al) telling me what a service the talk was to jazz!!

So, go out and buy that CD! Woodville WVCD116. Go and see him when he’s playing near you, and then you can tell your kids (OK grandchildren then), “I saw him play!”

Well, that’s enough for one week. The blog will have Simons CD cover artwork, or you can look at www.freewebs.com/simonspillett for more info on where to catch him in 2007.

But for now……(where have I heard that before),

Goodbye.

Geoff Cronin

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

Just a quick blog update, to remind you that TOMORROW NIGHT at The Hedsor Social Club, not only do we have as our Guest SIMON SPILLETT, but he will be launching there his new CD "Introducing Simon Spillett" released yesterday on the Woodville Label (WVCD 116).

This will be at a special price to all Hedsor Social Club-ites, of £10.00!

With him are John Critchinson, Andrew Cleyndert and Martin Drew, and Alan Barnes has written the sleeve notes.

So, what better time to turn out on a wet and windy winterish evening than Tomorrow at 8.30 pm. He will on this occasion be accompanied by The Clive Burton Quintet.

AND as a further piece of exercise for your diary, do add in for Saturday April 28th 2007; at the
Woodley Theatre, The Oakwood Centre, Woodley, Reading, Berks, Tel; 0118 969 0827 - a guest appearance by Simon with the Martin Hart Trio (8-10.30 pm).

Its a great little theatre, good tiered seating, with a bar and small cafe in the vestibule. So exercise the writing hand!!

TTFN,

See you all tomorrow, because you ARE remembering that its YOU who needs to keep live jazz alive!!

Geoff C

Geoff’s Jazz Nag : Wednesday November 15th 2006


OK, so it’s a day late, but you are going to get a bit of a nagging today after all. I know you all thought you’d got away with it, but no, it’s here for you again, just to remind you of the good jazz things that are happening locally for you.

Gigs

Thursday, at the Hedsor Social Club, Clive Burtons Quintet, (with or without Mr Burton sometimes) will play tuneful, swinging modern jazz. We need you as much as you need this event, so do come along and find out personally what a friendly and intimate setting for jazz this evening realises. Its only £3 to get in, we would like you to get an exit ticket (raffle) to get out with and it all starts at 8.30 pm. Club Bar prices. TV is never this good!

Saturday, 18th November at The Woodley Theatre, Martin Hart, Mike Wills, Ken McCarthy, Ian Scott Taylor and Alan Grahame recreate The Benny Goodman Quintet from 7.45 pm. Tickets are priced at £8.50 and at the time of writing this there were only 17 tickets left!! (I’ve got mine!). Ring 0118 969 0827 NOW!!

Thursday 23rd November at Hedsor we have Simon Spillett guesting, so do book your baby sitter early.

November 29th (a Wednesday) The Harrow reunion meeting for Lynn Garner, Ken McCarthy and Brad Lang takes place, so do take out a double booking for that sitter!!

Home Listening?

Yes, I have managed to fit in some this week!

First, a name almost from the past, Jay McShann. AND it’s a new album! Released in 2006, but OK, it was recorded in 2001! But yet again, it was a live club recording. Why is this so surprising I hear some of you ask? Well he is in his 90’s! It was his orchestra that first used 2 young boppers, Charley Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Yes that was in the 1940’s. He also had a great influence on Count Basie. Year in 2001 he was in Canada performing at the Montreal Bistro. Now many of jazz’s old performers who continue to perform are often well past their best. And obviously at 90, a piano player may not be able to finger the keys as well as he used to in his 20’s. But Jay can still play stride piano, and you wouldn’t know it was an older man playing. Its only when he sings that you realise that the voice has seen a lot of action! Alongside Jay is Canadian reedman Jim Galloway, and excellent tenor and soprano sax player, with Rosemary Galloway on bass and Don Vickery on drums. Altogether not a disappointment as a performance at all. As a bonus is a 20 minute interview with the main man, that is really a piece of history, and I think the album well worthy of your interest. It’s on a Canadian label, STONYPLAIN SPCD1315. You can read more at http://www.stonyplainrecords.com/

As usual, if you want to see this nag in glorious Technicolor, go to http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

It’s no better written, but it does look pretty!

Ok, well for now, it’s Goodbye, but do try to get to a live gig near you soon. Jazz needs its audience, and its audience needs to keep jazz alive!!

Geoff’s Jazz Nag Returns

After a break caused by some very unusual, and in some part, unpleasant circumstances, like General Macarthur, “I have returned”. If anyone has the odd day to spare, and is interested enough to want to know the details, do stop me, and buy (me) one, and I’ll tell you!

There would have been a nag last week, but my broadband connection died for 3 days!!

So to the grist of a Jazz nag!

TOMORROW, Tuesday 7th November, as an anniversary celebration of my national Service call up (I travelled to RAF Cardington to begin my 2 years on that day in 1960!!) at The Bourne End Community Centre Bar, Centre Jazz presents “Zane Cronje and Friends”. OK, so I’m a friend of said Zane, but rest assured, I won’t be playing, as I will be “resting” after a short sojourn in Wexham Park’s Lady Sobell unit. BUT, Lynn Garner will be singing, Brad Lang will be playing the bass and maybe singing and Terry Parsons will be playing the drums. I don’t know if he sings, I’ve not heard him. I have heard Zane sing, but don’t ask!! For all this talent all you need to do is turn up at 8.30 pm or before if you want a seat, and pay the man at the door £4. He will give you a raffle ticket, and you can sit and listen until half time, when they even give you a light supper. ALL this for the £4! Amazing. DO take more money than that with you, as there is an excellent bar at club prices, and Lynn has one or two CD’s to sell you.

After a period of recovery, on THURSDAY 9th November you can come out again to The Hedsor Social Club for Clive Burtons Quintet. 8.30 pm start, £3 to get in, £5 in raffle tickets to get you out, a bar at club prices, and some extraordinary great jazz. This year we have had some wonderful sessions at this venue, last weeks with Mike Wills and John Rolls being no exception. The ensemble of musicians are so able to pull out that magic that is jazz, the unexpected rapport of talented players, that you never know what will happen. Don’t miss out. “Nothing Stays The Same” remember!

SUNDAY jazz from Century Jazz at The Fifield Inn, totally free, but you can buy a raffle ticket to ensure you get out without disfigurement! 8 pm start, as some people have to go to work next day!

Into the future….

Saturday 18th of November, at the Woodley Theatre, near Reading, Martin Hart is responsible for an evening of “The Benny Goodman Story” staring Martin on drums and voice, Mike Wills reeds, Ken McCarthy piano, Ian Scott Taylor bass and Alan Grahame on vibes. A real recreation of the Benny Goodman Quartet http://www.woodleytheatre.org/ will take you to there website. Tickets are £8.50. It starts at 8.45 pm.

On WEDNESDAY November 29th at 8.30 pm, Lynn Garner, Brad Lang and Ken McCarthy return to The Harrow, up the Hughenden Valley. Those of you who have been regular readers will remember that this used to be a regular weekly event, until spoilt by local authoritarianism. It’s a wonderfully intimate setting to hear, and get to know these extremely talented musicians. AND IT’S FREE. Totally, not even a raffle!!

CD’s I’ve Listened too.
A little light listening has taken place this week. Two items I think worth writing about.

ASV has released an album in their Living Era collection by Kid Ory from 1922 to 1944. The transfers, especially of the earlier recordings, are excellent, and the 1944 recordings are from the historically important Orson Wells Mercury Wonder Show Broadcasts that did so much to put traditional jazz back in front of the population. What struck me more about this release however, was the number of different groupings that Ory played with in 1926. King Oliver and His Dixie Syncopators, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The New Orleans Wanderers, The New Orleans Bootblacks, and Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers. All in the same year, and all with only very slight changes in personnel. For Louis Hot Five, and The NO Wanderers, you only need to swap the trumpet player (George Mitchell for Armstrong) the rest are the same. The Bootblacks and the Wanderers, add Joe Clarke on Alto Sax. In all of this, you only have to listen to hear what a pivotal roll Ory had in these great recordings. ASVCD AJA 5148 is the number; it was released in 1994, but should still be around.

The other album was released in 2004 and is by the relatively young tenor player from New York, Harry Allen. He played at the time of the recording at a regular Monday night session with a regular group at Zuni, an eatery in Manhattan. With him, not just in support, but in true rapport, is Joe Cohn on guitar, Joel Forbes on bass and Chuck Riggs on Drums. The recording is fine, the music is in that old mainstream tradition, but with some great contrapuntal “occasions“. It’s been released on the Arbors Jazz label, and my only gripe is the sleeve notes. I don’t think even I could write so many words that basically say “I think their great”. Yes, there are bits that give actual facts, but mostly it really says “Us Americans, especially those of us in New York, are wonderful”. If you like small group swing, with a “very nice” saxophone sound, you wont go far wrong in listening to “Hey, Look Me Over, The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet” on Arbours ARCD 19333. Its good music and a pity in my mind that the music was put second to the sleeve notes.

That’s it for now folks, cover art is on the blog page.


Geoff Cronin

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/